Coconut Grove Music Series Presents: The Stamps String Quartet

Coconut Grove Music Series Presents: The Stamps String Quartet

The Stamps String Quartet is comprised of four outstanding young string musicians (2 violins, viola, and cello) who are enrolled at the Frost School of Music. They were selected from an amazing roster of talented young artists who passed the auditions of the Frost School of Music and met the academic requirements of the University of Miami. The students were each offered a full four-year scholarship, including room and board, provided by the Stamps Scholars Program.

Erika Liu, violinist, is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Music and Pre-Health at the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami.

Erika is from Denver, Colorado and studies with James Maurer. Her previous teachers include Claude Sim and Erik Peterson. Erika was runner up for Centennial Bach Competition (2019) and third place for Lakewood Cultural Center Competition (2019). She also participated in DYAO (Denver Young Artists Orchestra) and peer mentored aspiring musicians during her time there. She volunteers at El Sistema, a program allowing underprivileged children to pursue their goals as musicians. She was concertmaster of Creek Chamber Orchestra (2021-2022) and advisor to peers, often leading sectionals and orchestral rehearsals, helping peers learn and grow from each other. She has participated in Western States Orchestra and All State Orchestra, performing as assistant concert master on multiple occasions.

Erika enjoys skiing, reading, and going on long walks with her dog, Chewie.

Gabriel Figueroa is a Miami native and began his violin studies at age 11 with Vivian Ventura at Arvida Middle School. He attended Coral Reef Senior High School where he studied violin privately with Karen Lord-Powell and Misha Vitenson. During his high school career, Gabriel participated in various ensembles including the New World Symphony Side by Side (2022, 2023), FMEA All State Symphonic and Concert Orchestras (2021-2023), Nu Deco NXT and Miami Dade County Superintendent Honors Orchestra. As a member of the Stamps String Quartet at the Frost School of Music, Gabriel has had the privilege of working with esteemed artists such as the Dover String Quartet and Time for Three. He has participated in several music festivals such as Eastern Music Festival, Festival Napa Valley, Fresno Orchestra and Opera Summer Academy and Castleman Quartet Program. Gabriel is pursuing a B.M. in instrumental performance for violin. He studies under Scott Flavin and takes secondary lessons on viola under Jodi Levitz. Gabriel also serves as the violist in the Wildwood Quartet. In his free time, he enjoys weightlifting and cooking.

From a young age, Natalie Van Winkle’s love of music has shown through. After studying violin since the age of two, Natalie picked up the cello at the age of 9 after seeing her mother play and teach the instrument ever since she was young. From then on, Natalie has excelled in orchestral, chamber, and solo fields. Natalie served as principal cellist in: the Community Music School Orchestras of Webster University; The St. Louis Metro District 8 Orchestra; The Missouri All-State Orchestra, and the St. Louis Symphony Youth Orchestra. Natalie was also chosen to participate in the NAfME All-National Honors Symphony Orchestra. Natalie was a member of the Preparatory Program at the Community Music School of Webster University, focusing on chamber music. Her string quartet, the Amati Quartet, were finalists in the 2021 St. Paul String Quartet Competition.

As a soloist, Natalie has earned Gold Ratings from district and state Solo/Ensemble competitions. She has won the Florence Frager Concerto Competition and the University City Symphony Young Artists Competition, which allowed her to perform the Walton Cello Concerto with both orchestras. She won the University of Missouri - St. Louis/Young Artists Competition with the Rossini Cello/bass Duetto. Natalie has had the opportunity to perform in masterclasses for Avi Freidlander, Andrew Ye, Tanya Carey, Julia Lichten, Alvaro Bitran, David Kim, Bjorn Ranheim, and Asaf Kolerstein. In the summers, she usually attends the Rocky Mountain Summer Conservatory with her mentor Catherine Lehr Ramos.

Natalie also attended the Meadowmount School of Music and studied with Julia Lichten. In addition to her cello studies, Natalie also highly values sharing her talents in the community by performing in church, at hospitals, and tutoring/mentoring younger students. Natalie will be studying cello performance at the University of Miami - Frost School of Music with Prof. Ross Harbaugh. She was awarded the Stamps Quartet Foundation Scholarship. Aside from cello, Natalie enjoys baking, hiking, and hanging out with her friends. Natalie would like to thank Catherine Lehr Ramos and Vera Parkin for mentoring and encouraging her throughout her musical journey.

Dylan Hutcheson is from Arlington, Texas. Music has always been a key figure throughout his life. He began piano when he was six, and viola at age nine when he joined his school orchestra. When Dylan first heard the viola, he knew it was the instrument for him. Dylan served in front desk and Principal of the Texas, TMEA Region V Viola Section of the top orchestra for five years, starting in 2017, as well as Principal Viola of the Mansfield Philharmonic. Named to the TMEA All Area orchestra for all four years in High school, he graduated Cum Laude from Juan Seguin Highschool in Texas. For Dylan, playing as the heart of the orchestra, or any group for that matter, or even leading as a soloist, is a treat with the viola. His goal is to not only perform music to entertain, but also to inspire and help bring communities together through the joy of music.

Host or Publisher St. Stephen's Coconut Grove Music Series